Thank you, Villanova, for letting me become what I was not yet. As a student at Villanova, an Augustinian school, we are always reminded of the words St. Augustine once said, "Become what you are not yet." It was not until I left Villanova's campus last month when I realized what these words meant. "How am I supposed to know what I am not yet?" is what I first thought as a young and naive freshman. Walking onto campus for the first time as freshmen, many of us were filled with excitement and pride, thinking "we made it- the hard part is over." Few of us considered what kind of journeys we would be making over the next four years, including myself. I had no idea what was yet to come.

Now, as I approach my graduation day, virtually or not, I am beginning to unpack the journey I made as a Villanovan. To put simply, I have learned how to love and trust a community, thanks to my time at Villanova. Many who know me already know that my road to getting to Villanova was not easy. My entire life leading up to college I struggled with knowing my place in the communities I was a part of- mostly in the schools I attended. This restless feeling of unknowing my belonging was something I grappled with for many years- feeling unsuccessful in every environment I was in. I was never the smartest, most athletic, or even the luckiest in the friend department. How does a hopeful, outgoing kid with endless enthusiasm succeed in a place she feels an outsider in? Well, she didn't, and she would not feel that belonging until August of 2016.

From the very moment of getting your acceptance, Villanova smacks you in the face with overwhelming joy and excitement to have you become a part of its community. Literally, I listened to 2 minute's worth of people shouting "WELCOME!" at me when I got my acceptance video. This was a weird and unfamiliar feeling for me- that feeling of belonging? What even is that? Well, Villanova certainly did everything on its part to make me feel that sense of welcoming. However, what I now realize is that true belonging comes from within. No matter how much love I have received from the Villanova community, it was not until I let my guard down to trusting my surroundings that I started to truly feel like an integral part of its community.

As someone who finds it hard to trust, especially when good things appear, it was hard to shake the paranoia about whether the people around me really wanted to see me succeed or not. Is everyone here constantly competing against each other? No, that was only the case at my previous school. Do my professors actually care about how well I do? Or if I show up to class one day without a smile on my face? Yes and yes. I have never experienced a collective group of educators who have personally taken interest in the academic and personal successes of their students- and this was the realization that changed everything for me. I cannot even count on my two hands how many times a professor would check-in with me before or after class, asking: "How are you doing?" This concept of faculty caring about their students beyond the scopes of the classroom was the first thing that helped chip away my personal walls to my community.

I started realizing that I have an entire community that supports me- especially demonstrated by the faculty at Villanova. I have nothing but love, respect, and gratitude to all the professors who helped me believe in myself, and believe in the power of community. I was no longer insecure of my place in my community or my abilities. However, this support is not limited to just the faculty. On my walks to class, no matter where I was on campus, I always would see smiling faces, waving hands, and people around me who were embracing our community. The beauty of our campus is in each and every individual that walks the Villanova grounds each day. Seeing the love and joy around me made me want to feel that same way. Slowly but surely, I found my belongings at Villanova, whether it was in the classroom, or giving tours around campus. I began to feel pride, not just to be at Villanova, but pride in myself for the positive changes I was making from within- someone who could walk with her head held high, with a strong support system in the Villanova community. I am so happy I learned to let my guard down to receiving the goodness of what Villanova could offer, and taking advantage of all the support given from my faculty and peers.

So, when I see my personal slide appear during virtual commencement next month reading: "Thank you, Villanova, for letting me become what I was not yet," I will smile knowing that that person now has a strong sense of belonging and an appreciation for a community like Villanova.